Tuki focus on rural populace

RANJU DODUM

Itanagar, July 8: Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Nabam Tuki on Monday called upon the state rural development and panchayati raj departments to integrate their programmes for the targeted rural populace in a pre-budget review-cum-consultation meeting.

Tuki has been holding a series of meetings with various state government departments ahead of the budget session of the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly, which is set to begin on July 25.

Tuki sought to raise efforts in implementing various flagship programmes like MGNREGA, Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) and integrated watershed management programme (IWMP), insisting that work proposals should be approved by the gram sabhas but that “labour-oriented, income-generating agricultural and horticultural activities be given priority”, a statement from the chief minister’s office read.

Besides implementing the backward region grant fund in Upper Subansiri district, Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan (RGPSA) fund and nodal agency for receiving grants for the local bodies under the Thirteenth Finance Commission, Tuki said 2014 was historic with regards to devolution of functions, finance and functionaries to the local bodies.

Arunachal Pradesh had received Rs 57.48 crore under the Thirteenth Finance Commission against the allocated Rs 171 crore.

The chief minister also directed district planning committees to take corrective measures for effective implementation of decisions taken and called for a proactive role of deputy commissioners “to make the grassroots-level democratic institutions serve their purpose”.